Automatic igniter for gas stoves and the like



July 3, 1928.

C. E. METHUDY AUTOMATIC IGNITER FOR GAS STOVES AND THE LIKE Filed July 21, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet Jul 3, 1928. 1,675,899

' C. E. METHUDY AUTOMATIC IGNITER FOR GAS STOVES AND THE LIKE Filed July 21, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet- 2 oaoooonoa a o a luocoonaooooan oooonooeouo July 3, 1928. 1,675,899

' c. E. METHUDY AUTOMATIC IGNITER FOR GAS STOVES AND THE LIKE Filed July 21, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL E. METHUDY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ALVIN .D, GOLDMAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC IGNITER FOR GAS STOVES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed July 21, 1927.

This invention relates to automatic ignit ers for gas stoves and the like, and an object is to provide an improved device for automatically igniting the gas issuing from a burner either when the control valve is initially opened, or when the burner becomes extinguished while still receiving and emitting gas.

Another object is to provide means in as sociation with a pilot light and one or more burners for lighting the pilot lighted from any one of the lighter burners in case the pilot light becomes extinguished while still emitting gas.

I have found that when a combustible or explosive gas is enclosed within a passage open at both ends and is ignited at one end of the passage, the rapidity of combustion of the gas will create a pressure wave through the passage and beyond, carrying with it the flame of combustion, the continuity of which is dependent upon the supply of combustible gas in the area reached by the flame. Thus, by locating the passage so that it will receive a supply of gas issuing from a burner and conduct the gas to an ignition apparatus, the result will be that the flame of combustion will be directed through the passage to the burner and the gas issuing from the burner will be ignited. To accomplish this result it is necessary that the passage be positioned so as to direct the pressure wave and flame over or along the surface of the burner from which the gas is issuing. I

A satisfactory embodiment of the invention comprises a tube extending from a pilot light casing towzfid a burner in a relationship in which the surface of the burner having the gas outlets is in a plane approximately diametric to the tube. By this arrangement'gas issuing from an extinguished burner or pilot light will be automatically ignited from each other.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention for igniting the burners of a gas stove wherein the pilot light device is supported independently of the burners and the grid.

Fig. 2 is a similar View in which the pilot light device is supported by the grid.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing the manner in which the pilot light device is removably supported by the grid sections.

Serial No. 207,391.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the pilot light casing formed integral with the rid. F 1g. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the pilot light casing showing a swivel jointnfor the gas and flame tubes.

F1g. 6 is a view showing the pilot light devlce supported by a burner gas supply pipe.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing the specially provided gas outlet from the burner in the same Vertical plane with the open end of the tube from the ignition device.

The burners 1 receive gas from pipes 2 which are supplied with gas from a manifold 3 equipped with valves 4. An oven burner 5 is also supplied with gas from the manifold 3 through a valve controlled pipe 6. The. burners 1 have their gas outlets through their upper side walls and the burner 5 has its gas outlets through its lower wall and, in these respects, are of usual and familiar construction.

The pilot light casing comprises a cup 7 (Fig. 5) having in it a burner tip 8 mounted on the end of a tube 9 receiving gas from the manifold 3 under control of a valve device 10 of conventional construction. The cup 7 has air inlets 11 in its bottom wall and is provided with a removable top wall 12 having a large hole 13 directly above the burner tipS. This pilot light device is located between the series of burners 1. Tubes 14 extend from the casing 7 toward the respective burners 1 and terminate a substantial distance from the burners, in a relationship in which the plane of the upper wall of the burners intersects the open ends of the respective tubes approximately diametrically. This relationship admits suflicient air with the gas entermg the tubes 14 to produce a combustible gas. I modify the usual construction of the respective burners 1 by providing a gas outlet 15 in the side wall of each burner opposite the open end of the adjacent tube 14, and essentially in the same vertical plane, so that a part of the gas issuing from the burner will enter said tube 14 and pass to the pilot light casing, with the result that the gas will be ignited and a pressure wave created in the tube 14 containing the For connection of the tubes 14: with the casing 7 I provide for each tube an outwardly curved margin 16 around the hole in the casing through which each tube extends.

I adjustment.

The tubes 14 extend into the casing 7 and are provided on their ends. within the casing 7, with enlarged lips 17 having their ends formed on an upward incline so as to obtain better combustion of the gas contained in the tubes. The burner tip 8 is substantially below the open ends of the tubes 14. so that the pilot light will not be blown out by the pressure wave resulting from ignition of gas in the tubes 14. The rounded shoulders formed by the lips 17 fit against the inner surfaces of the margins 16. A nut 18 is screwed on each tube 14 to engagement with the margin 16 to secure the tube in its proper This structure provides a swivel joint for each tube. permitting it to be adjusted properly.

I modify the usual construction of the oven burner 5 by providing a gas outlet 19 in its side and I extend from the casing i a tube 20 having its open end adjacent to the outlet 19. so that gas issuing from said outlet will enter the tube 20 and be ignited by the pilot light.

In the modified construction shown in Figs 2 and 3, the pilot light casing comprises two semi-cylindrical parts 21 screwed to the respective grid sections 22 by releasable screws 23 passing through said grid sections and into the integral top walls of the casing sections 21. In this construction the edge of each grid section 22 is notched so that when the grid sections are brought together an opening 24 is formed immediately above the pilot light burner tip 25. From the pilot light casing tubes 26 extend outwardly toward the respective burners 1. Each tube 26 supports another tube 27 extending toward the respective burners 1 in the same relationship thereto as do the tubes 14. The tubes 26 and 27' are telescoped and held in proper relationship by screws 28. The ends of the tubes 26, within the pilot light casing, are cut on upward inclines to provide lips 29.

As in the construction shown in Fig. 1. I provide means for igniting the oven burner from thepilot light, the same comprising a modification of the usual structure of the oven burner 30 by forming a hole 31 in the side wall opposite the open end of a tube 32 extending in the pilot light casing. Thus gas issuing from the outlet 31 will enter the tube 32 and be ignited by the pilot light, resulting in a pressure wave through the tube 32 to the burner 30, which pressure wave carries with it the flame of combustion. thereby igniting the gas issuing from the burner.

The construction shown in Fig. 4 comprises a modification of the pilot light casing wherein each grid section 33 integrally supports a semi-cylindrical pilot light casing member 34, so that when the two grids are placed in proper position upon a stove a complete pilot lig it casing is formed by the casing members 34.

From the casing formed by the members 34 tubes 35 extend toward the burners having lips 36 on their ends within the pilot light casing. The burner tip 37 is supported by one of the members 34 directly below the opening in the grid formed by the notches 38.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6 a pilot light casing 39 is provided for each pair of burners 40, being supported upon an arm 41 from a burner gas supply pipe 42. The burners 40 are of the same construction as the burners previously described, being modified from usual construction by providing a gas outlet 43 in the side wall of each burner arranged to discharge gas into tubes 44 opening into the casing 39. The upper walls of the burners 40, through which the usual gas openings are formed, are in a plane approximately diametrically intersect-ing the ends of the tubes 44.

Each structural variation of the invention shown comprises means for directing the explosive pressure across the surface of a burner dischar ing gas, so that the as escaping from all oi the gas outlets in the burner will be ignited. This is an important distinction from that type of igniters which are not provided with means for directing the pressure resulting from the ignition of'confined gas. and also from that type of igniters wherein an explosive force or pressure is directed perpendicularly to the burner from which the gas is issuing. Also, the invention herein disclosed obtains a more complete combustion without generating noxious gases. The construction and arrangement may be varied in numerous other respects than the forms specifically shown in the drawings, without departure from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. An automatic igniter for a gas burner having a horizontal wall provided with openings and havin a gas outlet through one side wall, comprising a pilot light having a constant supply of gas, and a tube having one end opening near said pilot light and the opposite end opening near said gas outlet in the side of said burner, the end of said tube which is adjacent to said burner being located so that the plane of the horizontal wall of said burner having said openings intersects said tube approximately diametrically.

An automatic igniter for a gas burner having upper and lower walls and having openings for emission of gas through one of said walls and having a gas outlet through one of the side walls, comprising a pilot light having a constant supply of gas, a casing enclosing said pilot light, and a tube having one end opening in said casing and the opposite end opening near said gas outlet. the end of said tube which is adj acent to said burner being located so that the plane of the wall of said burner having said Openings intersects said tube approximately diametrically.

3. An automatic igniter for a gas burner having upper and lower walls and having openings for emission of gas through one of said wallsand having a gas outlet through one of the side walls, comprising a pilot light having a constant supply of gas, a casing enclosing said pilot light, a tube having one end opening in said casing and the opposite end opening near said gas outlet, and a lip extending from the upper portion of said tube toward the vertical plane of said pilot light beyond the lower portion of said tube in said casing.

4. An automatic igniter for a gas burner having upper and lower walls and having openings for emission of gas through one 0 said walls and having a gas outlet through one of the side walls, comprising a pilot light having a constant supply of gas, a casing enclosing said pilot light,-a tube having one end opening in said casing and the opposite end openin near said gas outlet, and a lip extending from the upper portion of said tube toward the vertical plane of said pilot light beyond the lower portion of said tube in said casing.

5. An automatic igniter for a gas burner comprising a pilot light, a casing enclosing said pilot light, and having an opening' through the wall thereof, and a tube having one end swiveled in said opening and having its opposite end extending laterally from said casing toward and terminating out of contact with said burner.

6. An automatic igniter for a gas burner having openings for the emission of gas through one wall thereof, comprisin a pilot light, a casing enclosing said pilot light and having an opening through one side thereof, a tube extendin through said opening from within said cas ng toward said burner, and

means swivelling said tube to said casing in a position in which the end of said tube which is adjacent to said burner is located so that the plane of the wall of said burner having said openings intersects said tube approximately diametrically.

7. An automatic igniter for a gas burner having gas jet-forming openings through one wall, and having a gas outlet through another wall at an angle to said openings, comprisin a casing for confining a body of combustib e gas, a pilot light burner in said casing, and means for conducting gas from said outlet to said casing for ignition by said pilot light burner and for discharging the pressure of combustion and the combustion flame in a plane parallel with the wall of said first named burner having jet-forming openlngs.

8. A device of the class described comprising va cup for confining a body of combustible gas and having a top wall provided with a relatively large central hole, a burner in the lower portion of said cup vertically below said hole, a device associated with said cup for conducting gas into the cup for ignition by said burner and for directively controlling the pressure wave resulting from the ignition of the gas in said cup, and means in said cup for directing into said device the pressure wave resulting from the ignition of said gas in said'cup.

9. An automate igniter for a gas burner having a horizontal wall provided with openings and having a gas outlet throu h one side wall, comprising a cup, a pilot lig t in said cup having a constant supply of gas, a tube having one end opening near said outlet in the side of said burner and opening into said cup for conducting to said cup the gas passing from said outlet for ignition by said burner, and means within the cup for directing into said tube the pressure wave resulting from the ignition of said gas.

CARL E. METHUDY. 

